The bomb load…
A very repetitive task as a result of all the seams that need to be sanded and smoothed.
I am presuming that these bombs are 500lb so they will be painted bronze green with a red stripe near the nose and a light green stripe on its shoulder. There are no markings provided in the kit to mark these. If anyone reading this knows any further info on the bombs I would be grateful!!
First the relevant instructions
GALLERY GRID
Has anyone tried to plough a field with a fork!??
These wings are enormous and almost the whole wing showed signs of stress.
Here are the three stages of oil canning the wings:
• On the left the kit surface
• In the middle the scrapes that I have made along the rivet lines. This time not as deep as those that I made on the fuselage
• On the right the sanded and polished surface. It looks fairly savage at present but given a filler undercoat which itself will be polished all the roughness will not be evident.
From photographs it is clear how much stressing there is on the wing, particularly in flight. The more flying time there was the more it showed on the ground.
I have attached the forward part of the fuselage to the rear as shown in the instructions above. The fit was not a problem and it is a good solid join with very little to do to hide it. Eventually the spine will need some filling but in the circumstances this should not be a problem as sanding is par for the course in this build!
I am only painting the rear Interior Green as it will not be seen – the aircraft I am representing has painted over windows, if I detailed this interior, I Wouldn’t finish it in months!
The turrets are almost complete, save for the barrels which I will attach at the end to avoid snapping them off during handling. The loose cupolas are actually in the wrong position – the deeper one is for the rear guns on the right.
I have added wiring where it can be seen from the outside.
Stuart Mackay says
Sir, I admire your dedication with the oil canning which will surely take such an outstanding model to another Level!
I could, quite easily run out of superlatives for the work that you have done so far!
Truly amazing, and I can hardly wait for each installment of this epic build!
Max Williams says
You’ve made a wonderful job of the oil canning effect Julian, it should look most realistic under a coat of paint.
RossPaton Paton says
Amazing. You tempted to put the transparent side on it?
Julian Seddon says
Hi everyone ! Thanks for the comments. When I started this I was only thinking in terms of the of the fuselage and wings. But as I looked at more and more references I realized that the stress to the aircraft included everything !! The engine nacelles, u/carriage doors,bomb doors etc. this has all taken much longer than I had anticipated.
I am only finishing up what can be seen.
In answer to you Ross two reasons for not using that transparent sides
a. I have only finished the cockpit everything else internally is not touched. The a/c I am modelling P – OS has all the side windows (barring the radio ops) painted over
b. The would have negated the work on stressing the airframe !
Julian Seddon says
some how in (b) above I have missed out the “transparent sides would have negated ” sorry !!!
Michael Chilestone says
There’s some amazing work there Julian; you have more patience than I do!
I assume the site header on the home page is this model as well? I was particularly struck by the weathering on the bombs: they really look as if they’ve spent a few weeks sitting outside on the bomb dump.
Chapeau!
Julian Seddon says
Thanks Michael, yes the header is the same model.
I tried to make the aircraft look as though it has been sitting next to the bombs for a similar time !!
JS
Christopher Woolford says
In 1967 or early ’68 a noted historian, Professor Alan J.P. Taylor, told me that historians are not custodians of the truth. He said historians make interpretations of verifiable facts. The truth, he said can only be told by creative artists. To illustrate his point, he told me to read Len Deighton’s ‘Bomber’. I did and I will never forget it. The bomb bay of your model is likewise chillingly memorable. Well done.
Julian Seddon says
Thank you Christopher. I must say that the word “chillingly” hadn’t occurred to me, but now, bearing in mind what it represents, the contents of the bomb bay of a Lancaster was chillingly fearful to those on the receiving end of it.
Your quote was well extracted !!
JS
Bruce Anders says
An absolutely fantastic build of the model Julian. It has been a joy to watch it’s progress. I sold mine upon the news HKM would be releasing a 48 version. Your build almost makes me regret it
Julian Seddon says
Hi Bruce, I wouldn’t regret it too much !! This was a grind in many ways as, at first, I had no real concept of the amount of oil canning I was faced with. Almost every part of the air frame showed signs of wear, right down to the fasteners on the engine covers !
Looking back it was worth it but it took some resolve to continue from time to time !!
I am sure that HKM will release a very good 1/48th scale version although I have not, as yet, heard about it
Thanks for your comment !
JS